Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Britney Spears 2009 Tour Dates - On the road again....

Well believe it or not, Britney Spears is going on the road once again. I remember a squeaky clean, fresh faced girl, about 10 years ago, in 1998, belting out the lyrics to Baby One More Time, as my 9 year old daughter sang along with her.

Fast forward to 2008, an insane list of unbelievable episodes, ranging from drugs and drinking, to head shaving and a new found "british" accent, from marriage to an annulment 55 hours later, to marriage again and then divorce with Kevin Federline. Is this really the same girl we first listened to almost a decade ago?

Sometimes it's hard to believe that she even survived some of these episodes, let alone going back on tour once again. But that's Britney, just like the Energizer Bunny, she keeps on ticking.

I know many people thought that after her "comeback" performance on the MTV awards in 2007, that Britney was going nowhere but down. But yet again she proved the naysayers wrong, and a little over one year after her debacle on the MTV awards, she came out with her latest hit "Womanizer". And now, on her 27th birthday, Britney has announced she will be going on tour in 2009. For the first time in five years Britney will be headlining in arenas across the nation.

This tour will help to promote her new album "Circus", which contains the number 1 hit single "Womanizer". Whether you love her or hate her, you can't deny the tenacity of this girl. She has gone through more in her short life so far, than I care to think about. And yet she perseveres, and continues to do the thing she loves, performing for her fans.

As a dad with 2 teenage daughters, I have been a sometimes unwilling participant in the Britney Spears world. I recall watching the throngs of screaming teenage girls at a Britney Spears concert with my daughers, & was reminded of my early days when similar crowds were driven to a frenzy during the days of the Beatles. And I remember my oldest daughter proclaiming, at the tender age of 9, "I want to be just like Britney when I grow up dad".

Although I would certainly be thrilled to have my daughter enjoy the type of success that Britney spears has had, I don't think I am alone in thinking "what is the cost of that fame and fortune?"

Britney Spears has experienced insane ups and downs throughout her life. It's hard to believe she is only 27. The tragedy that has accompanied her rise to the top seriously outweighs the success in my opinion. But yet, through everything that has happened to her, she still continues to go on.

I truly hope that this time, Britney will finally have the success she has worked so hard for, without the insanity that has accompanied her so far in this journey. As a parent, I can't even begin to imagine what this has been like for her family. The constant scrutiny under the public microscope. The insane amounts of money generated, along with insane fans who can be scarier at times than something out of your worst nightmares. I can't even begin to image how someone could live with that. Sure, the money would certainly make life much easier, but again, at what cost?

I don't think Britney could have possibly ever imagined that her life would turn out the way it has. From the tremendous fame and success, to the pain she has endured, some of it her own fault, but much of it just the pressure of being a superstar. You have to wonder sometimes, if she had the ability to go back in time, would she be willing to give it all up, the fame and success and money. And just live a normal life? Was it really all worth it? I often wonder.....

2009 Tour Dates:

March 2009

3 New Orleans, La.-- New Orleans Arena
5 Atlanta, Ga. -- Philips Arena
7 Miami, Fla. -- American Airlines Arena
8 Tampa, Fl a. -- St Pete Times Forum
11 Uniondale, N.Y. -- Nassau Coliseum
13 Newark, N.J -- Prudential Center
16 Boston, Mass. -- TD Banknorth Garden
18 Toronto, Ont. -- Air Canada Center
20 Montreal, Que. -- Bell Center
24 Washington D.C.-- Verizon Center
26 Uncasville, Conn. -- Mohegan Sun
27 Pittsburgh, Pa. -- Mellon Arena
30 Houston, Texas -- Toyota Center
31 Dallas, Texas -- American Airlines Center

April, 2009

2 Kansas City, Mo. -- Sprint Center
3 Minneapolis, Minn. -- Target Center
6 Edmonton, Alb. -- Rexall Place
8 Vancouver, B.C. -- GM Place
9 Tacoma, Wash. -- Tacomadome
11 Sacramento, Calif. -- Arco Arena
12 San Jose, Calif. -- HP Pavilion
14 Salt Lake City, Utah -- Energysolutions Arena
16 Los Angeles, Calif. -- Staples Center
19 Anaheim, Calif. -- Honda Center 24 Glendale, Ariz. -- Jobing.Com Arena
25 Las Vegas, Nev. -- MGM Grand Garden
28 Chicago, Ill. -- Allstate Arena

Tickets for Britney's 2009 tour will go on sale December 6th.